Yankees lefty CC Sabathia released a statement today announcing that he has checked himself into an alcohol rehabilitation program and will not be available for the postseason. His statement, via Yankees press release, is as follows:
Today I am checking myself into an alcohol rehabilitation center to receive the professional care and assistance needed to treat my disease. I love baseball and I love my teammates like brothers, and I am also fully aware that I am leaving at a time when we should all be coming together for one last push toward the World Series. It hurts me deeply to do this now, but I owe it to myself and to my family to get myself right. I want to take control of my disease, and I want to be a better man, father and player. As difficult as this decision is to share publicly, I don’t want to run and hide.  But for now please respect my family’s need for privacy as we work through this challenge together. Being an adult means being accountable. Being a baseball player means that others look up to you. I want my kids — and others who may have become fans of mine over the years — to know that I am not too big of a man to ask for help. I want to hold my head up high, have a full heart and be the type of person again that I can be proud of. And that’s exactly what I am going to do. I am looking forward to being out on the field with my team next season playing the game that brings me so much happiness.
Clearly the decision comes at a difficult time, as the Yankees are presently preparing to embark on what they hope will be a lengthy postseason run. But, Sabathia’s admission of a problem and the need, on a human level, to seek help for his disease have understandably taken precedent.
It’s been a rough few seasons for Sabathia, who has seen his on-field production decline due, in large part, to knee issues that have required surgery. The longtime ace and former Cy Young winner has a 4.81 ERA across 424 1/3 innings in the past three seasons. He has one guaranteed year remaining on his contract in 2016, when he’ll earn $25MM, but he can also see a vesting option for the same amount kick in so long as he does not finish next year on the DL or spend significant time on the DL or in the bullpen due to left shoulder issues.
Obviously I wish CC nothing but the best, but I do think the timing is a bit odd. Did he not know he had the issue a week or a month ago (honestly maybe not)? But if he did it then would he have possibly forfeited part of his paycheck. Today? Not so much.
In a lot of cases, it takes some straw-breaking-the-camel’s-back incident to wake someone up and know that they need to seek help NOW and stop waiting/denying the problem. We obviously have no idea what’s been going on in CC’s life recently.
I feel like the wild card celebration was probably really detrimental and maybe set things into motion.
I agree, Karkat, just part of my mind played devil’s advocate and thought about the salary, etc.
By not making himself available for New York’s postseason roster, I believe he is forfeiting a decent bit of potential money as well here
I do not know what is in a player’s contract, but think about this for a moment:
If a player is hurt or injured (even if he does it at home)and can’t play,he stills get paid. Now if a player has a disease and can’t play, he should not get paid? Even if the disease can be treated later, no one can say he won’t get worse if he waits. Not sure why one is different from the other and would be treated as such.
Look at Storen, who has a self inflicted broken thumb. Should he not get paid?
He doesn’t have a disease, he has a psychiatric disorder. He’s able to play, but is choosing not to for a very good reason. He should be commended for that, but not paid for it.
My understanding is he gets paid the first 30 days, and half pay the 2nd 30 days. Thats in the JDA for illicit drugs , so its at least that for alcohol. Most good companies or industries with unions have similar policies.
he probably did not know that he had an issue OR was not ready for it. he made enough money you know that right? money isn’t issue for him.
Just…. wow.
Alcoholism is awful. I’m glad CC is seeking out the help he needs and I hope he’s able to move past this and come back to a healthy, happy life.
I am praying for CC. Been a fan since he was in the Indians farm system. A great guy and winning pitcher for a lot of years. Glad he is getting treatment and CC has the character to come through this successfully.
I hope he gets what he is looking for. When he lost all of that weight a couple of years ago, it seemed like his balance was off on the mound.
Still, hopefully he can get himself healthy, and come back next year, and be closer to the pitcher he was
Props to CC for doing the right thing and admitting he has a problem. Obviously the timing is bad for the Yankees, but sometimes you have to put yourself and your family first. I hope he gets the treatment he needs to get his life back on track.
Exactly. His addiction and it’s impact on his life and his family’s life is FAR more important than his impact with the New York Yankees.
Glad to see him take this first step, I hope he can finish the process… like you said, props to C.C. for doing the right thing.
Im sure something happened recently and this is why this is happening. You don’t just wake up today and do this. Either a video of that toronto fight is coming out or he got in trouble again. Best wishes to CC.
Good for him for getting help.
Good for you CC. The first step is always admitting you have a problem. As another man who’s had a battle with the bottle I can only wish you the best.
I’ll agree with that, brother in law had issue also.
Multiple ways to quit, just like smoking and not all work for all people. brother in law went the AA way, after trying to kick the habit on his own for years and going to one of those ‘dry out” centers for treatment.
I just stopped. it wasn’t easy. you crave it, but after a few years, finally get over it. Key is (to me at least) I won’t even take a glass of champagne as a toast with someone, not a single “beer with the boys”, not a drop again.
Think with me it was the Navy culture that got it started. Didn’t drink before and hadn’t even tasted booze when joined, just like smoking. Tobacco and booze was dirt cheap at commissary. You did it to “be a good sailor”, while didn’t smoke, sure became a regular at the EM club when we weren’t out to sea and drank too often a few years after.
Instead of gun control, there should be alcohol control by both parties. it’s dangerous.
For me it’s a lifelong war with daily battles and I don’t win them all. But the worse thing anyone can do is saying they have it under control. I applaud anyone who admits the problem and applaud harder when they want to change.
The important thing is to keep fighting every day and focus on the victories and wanting another victory today. We as a country need to remove the “stigma of shame” when this terrible disease effects us and get the help needed right away. I am proud of your determination to fight every day against this foe.
I’ve definitely had my issues with alcohol, so I can relate to CC needing to get his help now.
It’s real easy, and mostly socially acceptable, to let it slowly take over your life.
It’s a daily battle for me as well, Purple. I’m not a perfect person, and I don’t pretend I’ll ever be, but I can say that I have more control over my life with each passing day. I hope CC will be able to say the same.
“If you’re taking a break ya better have a cigarette in your hand.” That was the Army mentality, when I had surgery years ago at the VA I was told that how I started smoking was pretty prevalent through out the service.
When smokes and booze was pretty much tax free at the PX/exchange/commissary.. Why not? It was pushed if anything, same way caffeine rich foods are today I recently read to keep the soldiers “on the go”.
Tatoos the same way in the Navy. Guys right out of boot camp, or after liberty before we officially graduated came back with them all over their arms, backs.. everywhere. was very few of us that refused to mark up our bodies with them and our Company Commander during basic.. an old chain smoking Chief, that had served a cpl tours in Nam captaining a river boat, spent plenty of time showing his off I remember…
Bad habits the military used to instill, or case of tattoos, marks on your body that will never go away.
Boston fan here: alcohol is very addictive and being alcoholic is a disease and h made a right decision. God be with you, brother !
Alcohol addiction is a symptom of a Far Greater Psychological disfunction, in CC case it, Probably being unable to adjust to being a Failure at the only thing he can do. Since he can’t Sing or Dance, I guess it’s Pitching !
For Girardi, great timing. Sabathia not likely to have appeared in a post-season game other than in (long) relief.
He gave up a total of 7 runs in his last 5 games. There’s a good chance he would’ve made a start.
I’m glad that there are still players out there who think about that little kid who idolizes them. CC is a hero to all fans, big and small. It takes a lot of courage to face this problem, publicly, when you know he badly wants to help his club win a championship. Go get ’em big guy!
I’ll give him credit for doing in now, out loud, in the middle of playoffs, when he just as easily could have managed it quietly in the off season. Alcoholism is a tough nut to crack.
Well, I wish CC the best. Addictions are tough. He was pitching the best he has in 3 years so it did not affect his on job performance, and w/o him they might have missed out on the WC
I do wonder at the timing. Why not wait until after the WC game. If they lose he would not have to announce anything.
There was a newstory and photo that came out shortly in the NY papers and ESPN after the Toronto incident and him going on the DL . It was an extortion attempt that may have triggered a MLB drug test and treatment program. A lot of confidentiality clauses in the JDA that prohibit MLB and the team from saying anything in most circumstances
I don’t care about the timing. I’m glad that he didn’t push off getting help for a few more weeks, or until the yanks were out of it. Alcoholism is a personal demon that lurks just outside the door. Many alcoholics can never face it. The hardest part is getting to the point where you can say that you are an alcoholic and that you need help. Once a person has that realization, they must strike when the iron is hot. And it doesn’t always work the first time, but don’t give up if it doesn’t.
I know of many people that have gotten thru it. But I know just as many who haven’t. Best of luck cc. Get treatment. Drink whatever kool aid they serve you. Get brainwashed. Buy into it, even if you don’t believe it. Be just as stubborn about your sobriety as you were in telling yourself you didn’t have a problem.